Indicator check-valve.



R. THOMPSON. INDICATOR CHECK VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 1916.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

INVENTOR, Haber? Thompson,

A TTORNEY.

ROBERT THOMPSON, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

INDICATOR CHECK-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedOct. 17, 1916.

Application filed April 3, 1916. Serial No. 88,432.

1 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ROBERT THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Holyoke, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicator Check-Valves, of which I cluded in the appliance.

the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

As known, check valves used in some situations and under certain conditions become unreliable in the performance of their functions by reason of the clapper valve becoming bound or stuck whereby it does not properly close, and in some cases whereby it does not properly open.

The object of the present invention is to provide an appliance combined with the clapper valve which serves both as an indicator of the condition of the valve and as a means for moving the valve backward and forward relatively to its seat.

The invention is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is substantially a central vertical sectional view through the improved indicator valve. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the improved appliances. Fig. 3 is a view showing a key to be employed for the manipulation of the indicator rod which is in- In the drawings, A represents the body of the check valve of a usual construction, and of which a represents the inlet, and b the outlet,0 representing the valve seat and d the clapper valve connected by pivot to swing for its opening and closing means relatively to the valve seat.

B represents a tubular bonnet or post understood as rigidly connected-to the top of the valve body and to extend above the ground or flooring in, or under, which the check valve is located in its connection with the main or supply pipe and in its connection with the delivery or service pipe.

D represents the indicator rod, the same having at its lower end a stud and slot engagement with the clapper valve and extending upwardly through the gland or stuffing box of the valve and centrally within the tubular post and terminated comparatively near the opening f in the top cap of the post.

As shown in Fig. 1, the clapper valve has an ear plece 2', and the flattened end portion 3' formed as a part of, or attached to, the rod, has a slot 70 therein through which the pm or stud m carried by the ear piece 2' engages.

0 and 2) represent indicators in suitable separation by the upper portion of the rod D, one thereof having, for instance, the word Shut, and the other the word Open. These indicators are so positioned relatively to the window or sight aperture in the side of the post that when the valve 1s properly closed the indicator o will be 0pposlte the sight opening, and when the valve is fully opened the indicator 3) will be opposite such opening.

The upper end of the rod above the indicator 0 is formed with the screw threads 9, and E represents a key having an axially threaded socket in its lower end. This key is insertible through the top opening f in the post for screw engaging the rod and for imparting manual raising and lowering movements to the rod whereby the clapper valve, which may become stuck or bound at lts pivot or hinge, may be swung repeatedly up and down and rendered free for its proper vibrations.

It is, of course, manifest that the condition of the valve may be inspected through the sight opening in the side of the post and if found improperly to be open, instead of closed as it should be, it is an entirely easy matter, through the manipulation of the rod, to rectify the conditions which are adverse to the operativeness of the valve.

The indicator check valves substantially as described are of great value in water circulatory systems. For instance, in a mill, if the valve fails to properly close under back pressure, contaminated or polluted water conveyed from some source and pipe connected with the circulatory system, might flow from the outlet side of the valve through the seat opening to becomemixed with and impair the clean water in the main coilinected with the inlet side of the check va ve. I

' with the utility thereof.

Changes of minor character from those specifically shown may be made without departing from my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a chambered. check valve body, a tubular post upwardly extending therefrom, having a glass covered opening in its side, and a clapper valve in said body, of a rod having a stud and slot engagement withthe clapper valve, and extended therefrom and freely movable verti cally through said tubular post, and accessible at the top of the post to have an up and down sliding movement imparted thereto, and having indicators, either of which will be visible through said opening according to the positionof the valve.

ing in its side, and having an opening in its top, and a clapper valve in said body, of a rod engaged with the valve and extended therefrom through said tubular post and having indicators either of which will be .visible through said opening according to the position of the valve, and said rod having its upper end screw threaded for receiving the engagement therewith of a key insertible through the top opening in the post, for imparting raising and lowering movements to the rod.

Signed by me at Springfield, Mass, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT THOMPSON. lVitnesses l/VM. S. BELLows, G. RDnrsconn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, .D. G. 

